Monday, September 28, 2015

I was hired in 2004 by The Groundwater Foundation where I
served in different roles such as an Intern, GIS Specialist, and Program
Assistant. I was employed for almost two years with my primary duties focused
on the Foundation’s Blue River Basin Community/Source Protection Program. The
project brought Nebraska and Kansas partners together to address excessive
fecal coliform and atrazine impacts to source water throughout the basin. It
was during this time that I had the privilege of learning from Groundwater
Foundation founder, Susan Seacrest, who was relentless in her quest to educate
and motivate people including me. I can remember her encouraging talks helping
me to expand outside of my comfort area and to become the public health and
environmental professional that I am today. The Blue River project included
traveling throughout the basin Kansas where I met with community leaders and
discussed how to move communities forward toward basin-wide water protection
goals. It was a pivotal and growing experience. I would like to think that the
Blue River Basin is healthier and safer because of our collective efforts.

I never thought my professional work would come full circle
so soon and bring me back to The Groundwater Foundation but that is exactly
what happened. Jump forward to 2006-07 when the Groundwater Foundation was
again working to draw attention to a serious threat to ground and surface
waters; that being pharmaceutical and personal care products. Highlighting a
then recent study by the USGS, The Groundwater Foundation put themselves in the
role of messenger and facilitator in organizing educational resources and
opportunities for discussion and learning.

It was at that time
as a newly hired Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department employee, that I
attended a 2007 Groundwater Foundation workshop that brought concerned
individuals, organizations, and communities together around the topic of water
quality impacts from products that were finding their way into streams, lakes
and drinking water. This workshop would be a couple years before the Associated
Press investigative study that identified that some 10 million US citizens were
drinking a cocktail of water, unwanted medications, and other waste products.
Out of the workshop the Nebraska MEDS (Medication Education on Disposal
Strategies) Coalition was formed to tackle the task of changing behavior away
from flushing unwanted medications to waste disposal methods that were more
protective of public and the environment.

The Nebraska MEDS Coalition went forward to change state law
allowing for the return of medications to pharmacies for proper disposal.
Following this important step, the Coalition rallied around a pilot project in
Lincoln and Lancaster County to fund a medication disposal system that was
conveniently pharmacy based. Now, some six years later and after state funds
were appropriated for the effort, 260+ pharmacies across the state are actively
collecting leftover medications with 8,000 pounds of medications being
collected for safe and legal destruction. That is 8,000 pounds of pollution that
will not be in our drinking water. I don’t believe this would have happened
without the leadership and vision of The Groundwater Foundation. I’m proud to
call myself a past employee and partner of The Groundwater Foundation.

Monday, September 21, 2015

After 15 plus years in tax and public accounting I decided
to try a different career journey; I always enjoyed working with my charitable
organization clients and when I saw a job ad for the Groundwater Foundation, I
called.

My interview was with Susan Seacrest and Cindy
Kreifels. I don’t remember getting much
said in word-wise because Susan was a formidable, energetic force wanting to
make sure I started to grasp the importance of our groundwater resources. Dial up some WOW! A connection was made because I’ve been the
Foundation’s accountant since 2007.

Over the past several months we have all enjoyed the stories
and hearing about the impact of the educational programs and other projects of
The Groundwater Foundation. But there
are “inside” stories rarely promoted; this is where I’ve had my “fun” (yes,
accountants do have fun) working for the Foundation. It’s been about our commitment to financial
transparency for our funders, innovating new processes for more operational
efficiency, having eight years of successful independent financial audits,
facing the cash flow challenges of economic cycles, collaborating with funders
and partners, and much more.

What do the numbers say?
There have been a lot of special folks and financial supporters helping
The Groundwater Foundation team provide quality programs over the past 30
years. A big heartfelt thank you to our
supporters! Let’s start on the next 30
years!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Evolving is often
described as the gradual development or progression to a more complex or
organized state. In more simplified
terms it is “change.” I have been a golf
course superintendent for over 40 years and have seen the golf course industry
evolve from the many advances in technology, science, and environmental
understanding. It does not matter what profession you are associated with, we
all have more knowledge and scientific tools available than ever before that
will make us more productive and efficient.

My “story” begins
with a brief journey from my childhood and ends where my beliefs are today
concerning our most important resource – water. I grew up in south-central
Nebraska on a family farm in the 1960s. Gravity irrigation of row crops was king.
Irrigation wells were drilled and land leveled to accept gravity flow. Water
was taken for granted and considered an infinite commodity. We drank water
directly from the wells without any thought of testing for quality. Nobody gave
a second thought about how fertilizers or pesticides could have a negative
impact on our underground water supplies. Irrigation discharges at the end of
fields filled roadside ditches and eventually provided tributary flows into
rivers and streams. Our farm had a
branch of the Big Blue River passing through it that we affectionately called
the “sewer creek” (named appropriately because of discharges made into it
upstream). It really didn't bother us in that we always fished and swam in the
“creek.” We observed turtles, waterfowl, beavers, and muskrats. I'll always remember the day when I went down
to the creek and saw dead fish floating down the river. Something happened!

Fast forward to today. Pivot irrigation is now king. Water
is applied much more uniformly and discreetly. Fertilizer and pesticides
applications are monitored in such a way to protect our underground water
supplies. Roadside ditches are dry with little or no irrigation waters leaving
its application site.

My childhood shaped who I am today. I have evolved too. I
now realize how our actions today will affect the environment of tomorrow. I am
an advocate for the protection and conservation of groundwater. I have become a
more skilled spokesman for the golf course industry on a state and national
level, serving on numerous committees. That is why I became involved with the
Groundwater Guardian Green Site program. I have to admit, when a peer suggested
I join the group several years ago, I was highly skeptical. It would have been
very easy to ignore the important environmental issues that always seemed to be
confronting the golf course industry and let others “fight the fight.” I always
considered myself a good environmental steward and was always trying to do the
“right” things...so why should I get involved?

After reviewing the Green Site program, it revealed that I
was already doing many of their suggested practices. The program would validate
the positive things we were already doing. The program is essentially a
self-evaluation process. It allows you to assess your facility and make changes
at your pace and level of financial commitment. Plus, it provided positive
press to local media outlets.

The Green Site program has also given me the opportunity to
network with professionals from other varying fields. It has allowed me to
advocate on behalf of our industry and clarify any misconceptions. Often it is
the uninformed public that can do irreparable damage. Communicating
environmental issues to a “guarded” public will always be one of our greatest
challenges. Thus, it is important to combat negative public perception with
factual results. I am proud of our industry and feel we are leading the way to
a cleaner and better environment. However, it may even be more challenging to
convince our elected government officials and regulatory agencies to recognize
the impact of their decisions. Our lawmakers must be able to balance
environmental sustainability without jeopardizing economic vitality.

Evolution will continue.Sensible and sustainable actions that produce results will be
fundamental to a healthy tomorrow.

Monday, September 7, 2015

"The Experience is Priceless"by James Burks, President, Senninger Irrigation

James Burks addresses attendees at the 2013 Groundwater Foundation National Conference.

Get involved, enhance your life…the experience is priceless!

In May of 2009 I was invited to join the board of directors
of The Groundwater Foundation. For me this was an opportunity to have a “voice
at the table” regarding the utilization of this finite resource so critical to
the welfare of the industry I participate in professionally, irrigation. I must
shamefully admit that, at least initially, this was my primary motivation for
getting involved. The past six years of service have been both a blessing and
an education, and I am happy to admit that my motives have become much less
self-serving.

Beginning with my first introduction to the Foundation I remain
impressed with the organization’s strong reputation for public education through
the promotion of responsible scientific data. By serving with The Groundwater
Foundation I have seen the issue of water quality protection and resource
conservation through the eyes of urban as well as rural water users. Users with
an economic stake in protecting this resource as well as those just wanting to
be sure that their grandchildren will not need to worry if their water is safe
to drink….all coming together with the spirit of collaboration, not
controversy.

One of the greatest personal blessings I have received as a
Foundation board member is the friendships with the genuinely caring people
associated with the Foundation. Awesome
relationships occur when people’s hearts and hands come together for the
purpose of helping others. So many bright and talented people, with varied
personal and professional interests, are donating their time to help secure a
sustainable supply of clean water for future generations. What a humbling
honor, just to witness firsthand the magic that is The Groundwater Foundation.

Happy 30th Anniversary to The Groundwater
Foundation! Please accept my sincere appreciation for including me as a small
part of this great journey. You have given me more than I can ever repay through
priceless friendships and knowledge. And the best part of it all is… It’s just the beginning!